Automatic manifold for vascular catheter

ABSTRACT

An automatic manifold for a catheter assembly. Valve means automatically open and close flow between a liquid supply port for connection to injection means and a liquid delivery port for communication with the catheter assembly. A pressure sensor is integrated into the manifold. The manifold also includes a quick-disconnect coupling mechanism for a liquid supply port.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices used with vascularcatheters, and more particularly to manifolds for delivering liquids tothe patient through the catheter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Manifolds for delivering liquids, such as contrast media, saline anddrugs, through a catheter are known in the art. The manifold has anumber of ports through which different liquids are supplied and anoutlet port through which liquid is delivered. A device, such as a powerinjector or syringe, connected to another port, draws liquid from aselected supply port and then forces the liquid into the catheter viathe delivery port. The manifold thus acts as a traffic-keeping device ofsorts which is manipulated by the operator to deliver different liquidsto the patient as needed.

One of the problems associated with the manifolds in use today is thatthe valves employed to direct liquids are fully manual. For example, theMORSE® MANIFOLD most commonly used employs manual stopcock valves tocontrol flow from the various liquid supply ports, to and from theinjector, and to the liquid delivery port. Each time it is desired todeliver a particular liquid to a patient, one or more of these stopcocksfirst must be manually moved to draw liquid into the injector, and thenagain must be manually moved to inject the liquid into the catheter.This wastes time, which is particularly valuable when performingdiagnostic, therapeutic or interventional vascular procedures, is adistraction during such procedures, and requires the use of an extrahand. There is also the possibility that the stopcocks couldaccidentally be moved to the wrong positions such that the wrong fluidis delivered, an air bubble is created, or some other risk to thepatient occurs. These risks are of particular concern as nonphysiciansbecome more involved with procedures.

What has been needed is a manifold for a catheter assembly whichautomatically controls flow between the liquid supply ports and theliquid delivery port when injecting liquid into the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an automatic manifold for a catheterassembly is provided. The automatic manifold could be employed in avariety of venous medical device assemblies, including cardiac,neurological and arterial applications.

In one aspect of the invention, the automatic manifold comprises ahousing having a liquid delivery port for communication with thecatheter assembly, and a liquid supply port for connection to aninjector. A chamber defined in the housing is in fluid communicationwith the liquid delivery and supply ports. A one-way valve controls flowbetween the supply and delivery ports and through the chamber. The valveis biased toward a closed position and is constructed and arranged tomove to an open position when liquid is forced into the supply portunder pressure.

In another aspect of the invention, the automatic manifold comprises aliquid delivery port for communication with a catheter assembly, and aliquid supply port for connection to an injector. A valve mechanismautomatically opens flow between the supply and delivery ports whenliquid is forced into the supply port under pressure, and automaticallycloses flow between the supply and delivery ports when liquid no longeris forced into the supply port.

These and other advantages and features of novelty which characterizethe invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexedhereto. However, for a better understanding of the invention and itsadvantages, reference should be made to the drawing which forms afurther part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter in whichthere is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an automatic manifold according tothe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of the automatic manifoldof the present invention is shown in FIG. 1.

Manifold 10 comprises housing 11 including liquid supply 20 and delivery12 ports connected by first 14 and second 16 chambers. Check valve 18between chambers 14, 16 controls flow between supply 20 and delivery 12ports. Valve 18 is a one-way valve known (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,820)and available (from Burron Medical Inc. of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) formedical applications. Valve 18 is made of elastomeric material supportedby conical member 17 against seating surface 19 to a closed position(shown). When liquid is forced under pressure into supply port 20 bysyringe 22, valve 18 automatically opens (by lifting from surface 19) toallow the liquid to pass into chamber 14, out delivery port 12 and intothe catheter (not shown). After liquid is no longer being forced throughvalve 18 by syringe 22, valve 18 automatically closes (against surface19) so as to isolate supply port 20 (and second chamber) from firstchamber 14.

First liquid supply port 30 communicates with second chamber 16 viapassage 35, flow being controlled by another one-way valve 32 includinga conical member 34 and seating surface 33. When syringe 22 draws liquidfrom second chamber 16, valve 18 automatically stays closed and valve 32automatically opens so that liquid is drawn into first supply port 30,through second chamber, and into syringe 22. When syringe 22 isdepressed, valve 32 automatically stays closed and valve 18automatically opens as discussed above.

Employing one or more automatic one-way valves in this way permitssupplying liquids to the patient without having to manually manipulatevarious valves. The necessary opening and closing between ports,chambers and/or passages is automatically done simply by operating aninjector to draw in and then force out liquid.

It will be understood that the makeup of, and arrangement of, thevarious components could be varied to achieve similar results. Forexample, first supply port 30 (or additional supply ports) need notnecessarily have a one-way valve, but could use a manual or anothervalve control means. A power injector, or other pressure-generatingdevice, could be employed instead of a syringe. Various automaticone-way valve designs could be employed.

In the preferred embodiment, there are four liquid supply ports 20, 30,40, 50 (not including the syringe port 20), only one (30) of which has aone-way valve 32. The latter three (30, 40, 50) act as inlets fordifferent liquids, specifically contrast media, saline, and drugs,respectively, in the preferred embodiment. It will be understood thatthese ports could be rearranged, some taken away, or others added,within the principles of the invention. Further one-way valvesassociated with particular ports, in various arrangements, could also beemployed.

Second supply port 40 communicates with first chamber 14 via passage 42.This port is intended for saline flushing liquid, such as a slowcontinuous flush, a fast periodic flush, or both.

Third supply port 50 is intended for drug delivery and includes a novelcoupling mechanism 52. When a standard threaded male Luer (such as 12,threads not shown) is threaded onto female Luer 51, the centralprotrusion of the male Luer (see 12 again) abutts against head 55 andcompresses spring 57 on stem 54 of plunger 53, thereby moving O-ring 56away from seat 59. Liquid then flows into and around head 55 and aroundthe rest of plunger 53, through chamber 70 and passage 58, and intofirst chamber 14. When the male Luer is unthreaded, spring 57automatically returns coupling mechanism 52 to a closed position(shown). In this way, a reliable and simple seal is created where, aswhen introducing drugs, it is desired to have the capability to quicklyconnect different liquid sources to, and disconnect them from, themanifold. It will be understood that the components of coupling 52, andtheir arrangement, could be varied within the principles of theinvention.

When liquid is injected into either second 40 or third 50 supply ports,valve 18 automatically stays closed.

Manifolds known today are connected to a pressure sensor/monitor viaanother port and a line communicating liquid from the manifold to thesensor/monitor. This is undesirable because readings can sometimes beinaccurate (due to the liquid in the line limiting frequency response,or due to a bubble in the line) and the additional line can becumbersome. The novel design herein accordingly incorporates a pressuresensor 60 directly into the manifold. Sensor 60 employs a pressuretransducer (such as the Motorola MPX2300D) which senses pressuredirectly from chamber 14 and transmits an electronic signal to a monitor(not shown) via electrical leads 61.

It will be understood that the last three components discussed (40, 50,60) could be arranged in different locations. For example, 40 or 50could be located on an upstream side of valve 18 in communication withsecond chamber 16. Various other arrangements could also be imagined.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to thepreferred embodiment discussed above, which is illustrative only.Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the type,arrangement, shape and size of components within the principles of theinvention, to the full extent indicated by the broad general meanings ofthe terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

We claim:
 1. A manifold for delivering liquids to a patient, comprising:(a) a housing having a liquid delivery port for communication with thepatient and an injection port for connection to an injector; (b) firstand second chambers defined in said housing in fluid communication withsaid liquid delivery and injection ports; (c) a first one-way valvebetween said chambers, biased toward a closed position, and constructedand arranged to move to an open position when liquid is forced from saidsecond to said first chamber; (d) a first liquid supply port,communicating with said second chamber, and having a second one-wayvalve that is biased toward a closed position and is constructed andarranged to move to an open position when liquid is drawn through saidfirst supply port and into said second chamber; (e) a second liquidsupply port communicating with said first chamber; (f) wherein whenliquid is drawn into said first liquid supply port by the injector, saidfirst and second valves are automatically closed and openedrespectively, and when liquid is forced out said liquid delivery port bythe injector, said first and second valves are automatically opened andclosed respectively; and (g) a third supply port having a couplingmechanism wherein said coupling mechanism includes a male Luer and afemale Luer, and said male and female Luers taken together perform aplunger movement allowing liquid flow into said first chamber.
 2. Amanifold according to claim 1, wherein said first liquid supply port isconstructed and arranged for receiving contrast media.
 3. A manifoldaccording to claim 1, wherein said second liquid supply port isconstructed and arranged for receiving saline.
 4. A manifold accordingto claim 1, further including a third liquid supply port, communicatingwith said first chamber, and constructed and arranged for receivingdrugs.
 5. A manifold according to claim 1, wherein said injection portis constructed and arranged for connection to a power injector.
 6. Amanifold according to claim 1, wherein said injection port isconstructed and arranged for connection to a syringe.
 7. A manifoldaccording to claim 1, further including a pressure port connecting saidfirst chamber to a pressure monitor.
 8. A manifold according to claim 7,wherein said pressure monitor comprises a pressure sensor integrated aspart of the manifold.
 9. A manifold according to claim 1, wherein saidone-way valves comprise an elastomeric material.
 10. A manifold for acatheter assembly, comprising: (a) a housing having a liquid deliveryport for communication with the catheter assembly and an injection portfor connection to an injector; (b) a chamber defined in said housing influid communication with said liquid delivery and injection ports; (c) afirst liquid supply port in fluid communication with said chamber,constructed and arranged for receiving saline; (d) a second liquidsupply port in fluid communication with said chamber, constructed andarranged for receiving contrast media; and (e) a third supply porthaving a coupling mechanism wherein said coupling mechanism includes amale Luer and a female Luer, and said male and female Luers takentogether perform a plunger movement allowing liquid flow into saidchamber.
 11. A manifold for a catheter assembly according to claim 10,wherein a blood pressure sensor is integrated as a part of the manifold,said sensor communicating with said first chamber.
 12. A manifold fordelivering liquids to a patient, comprising: (a) a housing having aliquid delivery port for communication with the patient and an injectionport for connection to an injector; (b) first and second chambersdefined in said housing in fluid communication with said liquid deliveryand injection ports; (c) a first one-way valve between said chambers,biased toward a closed position, and constructed and arranged to move toan open position when liquid is forced from said second to said firstchamber; (d) a first liquid supply port, communicating with said secondchamber, and having a second one-way valve that is biased toward aclosed position and is constructed and arranged to move to an openposition when liquid is drawn through said first supply port and intosaid second chamber; (e) a second liquid supply port communicating withsaid first chamber; (f) wherein when liquid is drawn into said firstliquid supply port by the injector, said first and second valves areautomatically closed and opened respectively, and when liquid is forcedout said liquid delivery port by the injector, said first and secondvalves are automatically opened and closed respectively; and (g) whereinthe first and second chambers are aligned to each other along alongitudinal axis of the manifold and the first and second liquid supplyports communicate with the second and first chambers along a transversalaxis of the manifold, respectively.
 13. A manifold for deliveringliquids to a patient according to claim 12, wherein a third supply porthaving a coupling mechanism wherein said coupling mechanism includes amale Luer and a female Luer, and said male and female Luers takentogether perform a plunger movement allowing liquid flow into said firstchamber.
 14. A manifold for a catheter assembly, comprising: (a) ahousing having a liquid delivery port for communication with thecatheter assembly and an injection port for connection to an injector;(b) first and second chambers defined in said housing in fluidcommunication with said liquid delivery and injection ports; (c) a firstliquid supply port in fluid communication with said second chamber,constructed and arranged for receiving saline; (d) a second liquidsupply port in fluid communication with said first chamber, constructedand arranged for receiving contrast media; and (e) wherein the first andsecond chambers are aligned to each other along a longitudinal axis ofthe manifold and the first and second liquid supply ports communicatewith the second and first chambers along a transversal axis of themanifold, respectively.
 15. A manifold for a catheter assembly accordingto claim 14, wherein a third supply port having a coupling mechanismwherein said coupling mechanism includes a male Luer and a female Luer,and said male and female Luers taken together perform a plunger movementallowing liquid flow into said first chamber.
 16. A manifold for acatheter assembly according to claim 14, wherein a blood pressure sensoris integrated as a part of the manifold, said sensor communicating withsaid first chamber.